GLENDALE, Ariz. — As he begins his first season as a fully healthy two-way player since 2023, Shohei Ohtani knows the expectations for himself and the Los Angeles Dodgers are higher than ever.
The reigning World Series champions have not been shy about their quest for a third consecutive title. For Ohtani, there are questions about whether he can re-establish himself as one of baseball’s top starting pitchers. Ohtani’s decorated trophy case includes four MVP awards, four Silver Sluggers and two World Series rings, but lacks MLB’s most prestigious pitching honor.
“I think it’s fair to say he expects to be in the Cy Young conversation,” manager Dave Roberts said Friday.
Health takes priority, however, especially this early in the spring. Ohtani has not logged more than 25 starts in a season since 2022 with the Los Angeles Angels, when he finished fourth in Cy Young voting. He’s made just 14 regular-season starts since signing with the Dodgers ahead of the 2024 season. While he’ll play for Team Japan in this year’s World Baseball Classic, he won’t pitch and will instead focus on being ready for a full season as a two-way player for the first time in a Dodgers uniform.
“If at the end the result is getting a Cy Young, that’s great,” Ohtani said through team interpreter Will Ireton. “Getting a Cy Young means being able to throw more innings and being able to pitch throughout the whole season, so if that’s the end result, that’s a good sign for me. What I’m more focused on is just being healthy the whole year.”
The pitchers and catchers have arrived! #DodgersST pic.twitter.com/3pc3Wq1eyJ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) February 12, 2026
While Friday served as the Dodgers’ official pitchers and catchers report date, Ohtani arrived at the complex in early February and has thrown three bullpen sessions. He hopes to throw his first live bullpen next week. The Dodgers have yet to determine which day Ohtani will leave for the World Baseball Classic, though Team Japan’s first game is scheduled for March 6 in Tokyo. The team is also still figuring out how or if Ohtani can stay on schedule with his throwing program once he leaves for the tournament.
“I’m not really sure how I’ll be able to practice in the WBC setting, so I’m going to try to ramp up as much as I can,” Ohtani said.
That throws a potential wrinkle into Opening Day rotation plans, though the Dodgers have much to determine there, including Blake Snell’s availability. Roberts said the Dodgers will likely open the season with a six-man rotation again, similar to what he did last year, but the Dodgers won’t know how Ohtani will factor into that equation until much later in the spring.
“It’s delicate,” Roberts said. “We’ll know more in the next couple weeks and see where the progression is at. I think for us, there’s not going to be any timeline or end line or finish line where he has to be ready. I’m sure his marker is Opening Day, but I think for us it’s just to kind of see where his progression leads him.”
Ohtani must balance more than his pitching workload. He clubbed 55 homers and led the National League in slugging percentage (.622) and OPS (1.014) while serving primarily as the designated hitter. Can he keep up a similar production line while returning to the rotation?
Ohtani was encouraged by his return to the mound in the second half of last season, but said being able to do so in the postseason was more beneficial.
“Going deeper into the postseason as a two-way player, I did feel the effect of it,” he said. “I think playing the postseason as a DH only, which I did two years ago, versus what I did last year, did feel different. In that sense, it’s an experience that I plan to hold onto.”
The next two weeks will be telling for Ohtani. He’s aided by a healthy offseason that allowed him to focus on preparing and not rehabbing. However, there are still plenty of questions before the regular season.
Still, there was palpable excitement around Dodgers camp Friday as the team prepares for the return of its unicorn.
“Regardless of my expectations for him, his are going to exceed those,” Roberts said.